The shoes are actually a little strao walk in. They're not difficult like heels, but not the same as fts. I'm not quite walking barefoot, but I feel the ground more. I'm not sure how to describe it—not that it is important. I kind of like them, not that I really want to wear this stuffy suit again.

  The stairs are much easier to walk down than st night in those stupid heels. I do it in heels without a thought, but I always feel my mana stirring around. Today, everything is calm as I walk down to the first floor.

  At the door, I find the woman who forced me into this marriage. All of them are iiful dresses. Most of them show off their figures, except Shimmer. She is still in a stunning dress, but it hangs a bit loose over her, uhe warriors who are trying to show off their abs.

  Firying is the wrong word. They are showing them off, and it is w.

  "Lord Alzi," a maid says as I walk down the final flight of stairs. "I know this is a bit much to ask of you. But could you let out a bit of your life mana? It seems Princess Elora had too much to drink st night and I, this is all my idea, was hoping you could help relieve her headache."

  "I would appreciate it, my dear. But I uand if you are still angry with me," the Princess says, giving me a weak smile.

  Aurora pces a hand on my back, gently pushiowards my new owner. She really hopes I fall in love with this...

  "Sure," I say. I circute my mana as I practice all week a out for a sed, c all the women standing in front of the door.

  "Thank you, Lord Alzi," the dark maid says with a deep bow. "I think you did a lot more than just heal the headache."

  "Yes Alzi," Isda says. "You did do more than that. Thank you. I didn't even notiuch my feet were hurting me. You look handsome in that suit. Shy did a great job fitting it."

  "Why are her breasts so pronounced?" the Princess asks. Her eyes glued to my chest.

  "She said the hurt, yhness," Shy says. "I did not wish for her to be in pain for her first party, so I put her in a bra."

  "That is fine," Isda says, giving me a hug. Her head presses into that very bra. "The jokes will be a bit useless with a pair this powerful. Let her wear what she wants underh. The suit looks amazing, and I think her womanly side just makes it better."

  "True. I'm guessing you don't like the suit much then. I'll try to limit how often we force you into ohe Princess says. "Well, we o get going if we are to make it in time."

  The maids seem to agree as they shepherd us out of the entrance hall and into the carriages. Shimmer aa somehow end up in my carriage, while my maids end up somewhere else.

  Maybe they aren't ing?

  "You do look stunning," Shimmer says, sitting beside Geta on the opposite side of me. "I know you look amazing ihing, but some just let your beauty really shine."

  "Thanks," I say. "Is there a reason you don't let me see yure clearly?"

  "Alzi, dear, that isn't something you should be asking a dy," Geta says.

  "Oh honey, we are married," Shimmers says back. "We o be able to ask rude questions and speak our minds with each other. I'm happy to know you trust me enough to ask something like that. I heard a s of what Geta shared with you in the ging room, and she is right. I love you, Alzi. I want you and worry that I will jump into your bed a you have your way with me for the rest of the time. Even now, that sounds like a great time. But this family needs me to perform, so I must wait to join you in bed. I won't trol what you wear, but I try to help what I do and wear around you. Sorry if it looks like I am hiding from you. I am, but it is out of love for you and this family."

  "Ok. I guess," I say. I don't get how Shimmer could love me enough to do any of that. A week of lunches and occasionally w out is hardly enough time to e to that clusion. Plus, she did this from the start.

  "Sorry for the weirdness of it," Shimmer defends. "But I promise I love you, Alzi. I hope I've shown that this week."

  "You have shown some care for me," I say.

  "I hope we both have," Geta says. "I'm not crazy for you like Shimmer. But I like you. You're a pretty woman and a handsome man. We know this hasn't been the best start to a retionship, but I've heard of worse starts ending with everyone madly in love. I just wish that we could head in that dire."

  "You two have been kind to me," I say. Is this what they are here for? To pitch their love aion.

  "Now, we should talk a bit about the party," Shimmer says. "The mushy stuff is great, but words won't vince you. So, at the party, the only true differeween the women and men is dinner. You will eat with the men instead of with all of us. Used to be to make it easier to poison the women without hurting the men. The men's meals and women's meals are cooked separately. Me a differeion of drinks. Safety for the men and all that."

  Shimmer gives a small pause, waiting for a question: "Besides that, you'll dance a bit with us and some of the uests and just socialize. There's o worry about calling us your wives or anything. Please don't act like a strao us, but we don't need you ag like we are in love. Following the etiquette to the best of your knowledge and ability would be great."

  Geta cuts off Shimmer to get a word in, "But besides that, we just want to have fun and hang out with the other his is the younger geion. So a lot of baronesses or women looking to take over for their Mothers soon. Room for us to gain some allies in the new blood. You don't o worry too much about that. Even if you divorce us you'll have to marry a noble and deal with these womeo have them like you."

  "I think you will enjoy the night. The dang is simple; just follow your partner and learn about them," Geta tinues. "You let your hands wander about their body. Please, don't go uheir clothing without permission or take anything off. But besides that, the women will be happy to have you feel them up, and they will do it back. If they go too far for you, just tell them, and they will up their act."

  "If they try to have sex with me?" I ask.

  "Your choice," Shimmer says. " I make one request of you, Alzi?"

  "What?"

  "Don't give them more than one kid."

  "If I want to give them more?"

  "Please?" Shimmer begs. "I know your csses and body wish to breed. But please limit it. Wome used te pregnancies, and it will be messy if yiving e pregnao every hat gets her hands on you."

  "Why let me fuck them at all?"

  "The rules on the parties are clear," Shimmer says. "We are to do our best to keep you from having sex, but we ot stop you with threats or ands. Some women will be here aiming to get pregnant, others will do it on a whim. Your wives are not here to have sex. If we want a kid, we will e begging to you. Now, you being a sve does let us give you the and, but we are serious about limiting our abuse of you."

  "I'm sure you are," I mumble. The st party I was in had an unknown amount of women walking away with twins, triplets, or even quadruplets. The catkin must be up to six or seven kids. The dryad has eight. Bitch should know better than to enter my mind.

  "So, you limit the number for us?" Shimmer asks again.

  "What do I get?"

  "Elora will get drunk at this party," Shimmer says. "She likes to drink a bit too much. I'll get her in your bed and give Aurora a few s for you. That way, you fuck her properly without getting her pregnant."

  "So you are saying you'll let me rape my owner?"

  "Rape? No, no, no. This isn't rape. You have every right to call her into bed," Shimmer says. "I'm just helping you call her in. Trust me, she wants to end up in your bed. She just worries about you hating her. She'll py along with yames. Tie her up and use any of your toys. She'll be happy to be there."

  "And if I don't care about having sex with my ain?"

  "Again?" Shimmer says, raising an eyebrow. "Anyways, how about Geta here joins you in bed or I could give us aeaming bath. I have to leave soon for a mission, and I would love to have ano at a hot bath with someone."

  "Bath," I say. "I'll give any woman that seduces me just a single child, and you give me a hot bath again."

  "Deal," Shimmer says with a big smile. "The girl loves my bath. Seta. Seems I won out here. And Alzi, my dear, you don't have to give anyone a child here. Don't let them vince you that it is some tradition or they did something special to earn a child. Those are all lies. How far you go with them is up to you. I know you didn't ask feta in your bed. But I'm sure she would join you. Or Isda. Or any of your wives. I think we all have the s or potions to keep us to Elora's wishes while still joining our amazing husband in bed. Or your maids. All would be willing to relieve any lust the nobles send your way."

  "Not you?"

  "If I end up in your bed, I'm not leaving it till I'm pregnant," Shimmer says with a small frown. "I wish to follow my head wife's instrus and hold off for a year or two. I promise when that restri is lifted, you call me into the bedroom and have your way with me. I am quite flexible and have plenty of stamina. However, I have heard you are more than willing to tinue even when your partner is too tired to be an active partner. You are more than wele to keep using my body till I leave your bed. I take the sequences."

  "I'll think about it," I say.

  We have just a few moments of silence before the carriage shakes to a stop.

  "Well, it looks like we are here," Shimmer says. "I hope you enjoy this night. I know the lessons are b, but they are important for you. The house will start to empty out as we all run around the Queendom doing missions to spread our family's influence. So, try to use this to get to know us as well as the other nobles."

  Aurora saves me from answering. The carriage door opens. "My Lord and Ladies, are you ready to e out?" she asks, Shy standing just behind her.

  "I think we are all set, Aurora," Shimmer says. "Let's party!"